Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Alison Lewis released her first solo CD, "Seven" on June 16, 2016. In my role as a music reviewer, I usually receive about 25 to 30 new CDs each month. Sometimes it is hard to get to each one, but I make the effort knowing that all these musicians have put their life and soul on the line composing and recording their songs. The majority of these CDs are good, a few are excellent and every once in a while I find a gem that blows me away. Alison Lewis' CD "Seven" is one of those gems, a new CD in a world of its own!

Alison Lewis is one of the best singers I have heard in quite a while. Why you ask? First, her voice is pure and strong, she has perfect pitch and a unique understanding of lyrics. But what puts her over the top is her vocal and musical arrangements that are new, fresh and a treat for the ears! Alison describes her arrangement method as a "re-imagining process" where she may alter a song's rhythm, melody and/or the underlying chords in order to uncover a new and deeper appreciation for its meaning. She attributes the success of each composition to equal doses of intuition, thoughtful listening, and inspiration. I could listen to Alison sing all day and so will you. Get this CD; it's like listening to a master class in the art of vocal performance. There are 7 songs on the playlist, 5 great standards and 2 songs composed by Alison.

I had a difficult time picking just one cut from her CD for you to preview so I have attached two cuts. First is a "YouTube" of Alison singing her fabulous take of "My Funny Valentine" and the second "YouTube" is Alison singing the Lennon and McCartney song "Blackbird". Enjoy!